Process of producing fuel briquettes



Patented Oct. 10, 1933 UNITED STATES PROCESS OF PRQDUCENG FUEL BRIQUETTES Walter E. Trent, New York, N. Y., assignor to Trent Process Corporation, New York, N. Y.,

a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application November 26,1929

Serial No. 403,977

2 Claims. (01. i '15) In the production of fuel briquettes from carbonaceous solids, binder materials, usually of a hydrocarbon nature, are employed to hold the carbonaceous particles together before and after the carbonization of the briquettes.

I have discovered that particles of pulverized bituminous coking coal when coated with hydrocarbon residuum or the residue of an hydrocarbon oil distillation constitute an effective and eco- 10 nomical binder in the briquetting and carbcnization of solid fuels, particularly anthracite coal, coke, and other solid carbonaceous materials low in volatiles. The hydrocarbon residuum referred to serves as a temporary binder for the green -briquettes prior to the carbonization and forms with the bituminous coal particles a permanent binder after carbonization of the briquette, the

bituminous coal constituting, however, the principal permanent binder after carbonization.

It is therefore an important object of my invention to provide a novel binder material of the character above indicated for use in the production of solid fuel masses or briquettes.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a simple and practical process for producing the novel binder referred to.

Still another object of my invention resides in the production of a novel fuel briquette and in the provision of a method for producing the OO' same from anthracite coal, coke, and low volatile carbonaceous solids in general by the use of a new binder material.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detail description thereof. As stated, the new binder comprises hydrocarbon bituminous coking coal coated with residuum of hydrocarbon oil distillation and may be prepared by simply mixing pulverized bituminous coal with oil, preferably heavy hydrocarbon 40 oil such as fuel oil, crude oil, etc., and the mixture distilled to the point of removing the major portion of the oil as vapors and to leave distributed throughout the coal a hydrocarbon residue of asphaltic character. Although the invention 4 is by no means limited to any specific proportions of oil and coal, I have found that the use of l to 1 parts of heavy oil to 10 parts of pulverized bituminous coal and the mixture distilled to remove approximately 60 per cent. of the oil as vapor, results in a mass of bituminous coal particles coated with hydrocarbon residuum which is very effective as a binder, particularly for anthracite coal and other low volatile carbonaceous solids. The mixture of pulverized bitu- 'minous coal and heavy oil may be distilled in anyknown manner, preferably in a'continuous retort, and I find that when fuel oilis employed as the heavy oil, temperatures of about 600 F. are sufiicient to reduce the oil to an asphaltic condition and coat the bituminous coal particles.

In the preferred manner of preparing the binder, I employ as the starting material an amalgam of the bituminous coal and the heavy oil prepared in accordance with the teachings of my prior Patent No. 1,420,164. That is to say, the pulverized bituminous coal is suspended in water 01' other liquid and a heavy oil such as fuel oil in the proportion of about two parts to about five parts of comminuted coal added to the suspension. The mixture is then agitated, the treatment resulting in the agglomeration or amalgamation of the coal and oil and the separation of the ash-forming or non-carbonaceous constituents and other impurities from the coal which are carried off in the water upon separation of the coal-oil amalgam therefrom. The resulting amalgam is then heat treated or distilled down to the point where the moisture and the major portion of the oil is vaporized and the bituminous coal particles remain coated with oil residuum.

The resultant product'of bituminous coal particles coated with hydrocarbon residuum of an asphaltic character constitutes the binder.

In the manufacture of briquettes from anthracite coal or coke by the use of my improved binder, the latter is mixed with the pulverized coal and coke and the mixture briquetted or molded into desired shape by means of any known apparatus, the hydrocarbon residuum of the binder constituting a temporary binder for the green briquettes or shapes prior to the carbonization or baking. Although the invention is not limited to specific proportions of binder and coal, I have found that 2 parts of a relatively light binder prepared as above described to 10 parts of an- 95,

thracite coal, coke or other solid carbonaceous material low in volatiles will suffice to hold the briquettes or fuel masses intact before and after the carbonization. As a variation of the process, instead of mixing the binder with dry pulverized anthracite coal or coke, I may incorporate the same into an amalgam of the coal or coke and oil prepared in accordance with the method of my aforesaid priorpatent and then briquette and bake.

The green briquettes or shapes are now ready for the final baking or carbonization treatment and this operation may be carried out in anyknown manner. After carbonization, the bituminous coal particles together with the hydrocar- 1.10

bon residuum, particularly the former, constitutes an effective permanent binder for the finished briquettes or shapes.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have devised a novel binder for solid fuels and a method for its manufacture as well as a method of preparing Iuel briquettes by the use 01 such binder. Various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A process for producing solid fuel which comprises mixing pulverized bituminous coking coal with heavy hydrocarbon oil, heating the resultant mixture sufiiciently to vaporize a substantial portion of the oil and to reduce the unvaporized portion thereof to an asphaltic condition, the coal particles being thereby coated with an oil distillation residue of asphaltic character, mixing the thus coated coal particles with a substantially greater amount of low volatile carbonaceous solids, the coated coal particles being in amount sufficient to act as a binder for said solids, and briquetting the mixture of said solids and coated particles.

2. A process for producing solid fuel which comprises mixin pulverized bituminous coking coal with heavy hydrocarbon oil, heating the resultant mixture sufficiently to vaporize a substantial portion of the oil and to reduce the unvaporized portion thereof to an asphaltic condition, the coal particles being thereby coated with an oil distillation residue of asphaltic character, mixing the thus coated coal particles with a substantially greater amount of low volatile carbonaceous solids, the coated coal particles being in amount suflicient to act as a binder for said solids, briquetting the mixture of said solids and coated particles, and carbonizing the briquettes.

WALTER E. TRENT. 

